Leadership you can trust

Industry experts with extensive therapy experience

Leadership Team

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Jim Palazzo
Transitions Group

Jim Palazzo, Transitions Group

Jim has over 25 years of operating experience at multi-million dollar healthcare organizations. He is an award-winning executive with a solid history of success in improving patient services and overall efficiency. Jim acquired and started several healthcare-related companies beginning in 2005. His first was the acquisition and substantial renovation of East Bank Center, which has grown exponentially in terms of revenue as well as health care services. In 2005, he also acquired Advanced Therapy Solutions to provide physical, occupational, and speech therapies to the patients he served. Finally, Transitions Hospice was formed in 2007, which began as a small, Rockford, IL based hospice which has grown tremendously providing the full scope of hospice services in Northern and Central Illinois, as well as Indiana. The other related companies also provide an array of healthcare services including nurse practitioner and durable medical equipment.

Jim began with a simple yet understated philosophy, “keep people at home,” and has spent the last ten years making this a reality. Prior to starting these organizations, Jim was with Alden Management Services and Charter Hospital of Lafayette, both multi-million dollar healthcare organizations. He led the seamless start-up and service delivery strategy of eight ancillary companies. Additionally, Jim developed and executed innovative administrative and marketing strategies for Alden. He was rapidly promoted to positions of increasing responsibility with the Facility Operations Division of Alden Management Services, a $500 million long-term healthcare provider, culminating into Vice President of Operations. In this role, he directed all aspects of operations in 30 facilities comprising 4,600 beds. Jim received his bachelor's degree in Healthcare Administration from Purdue University.

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Lynn Erickson
CEO & President

Lynn Erickson, CEO & President

Lynn Erickson has a demonstrated history of delivering excellence in care. She is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant, Illinois Licensed Nursing Home Administrator, a certified ergonomics specialist and was once nominated for Vice President of Professional Woman of the Year by National Professional Women's Association. For over 30 years, she has led teams providing therapy services to Skilled Nursing facilities, outpatient facilities, home health, and independent and assisted living facilities. She has been responsible for fiscal and compliant operations for multi-site operations of 26 facilities, one of which was a fortune 500 company. Her career has taken her to Florida, Illinois, and Wisconsin, where she has held several positions: program director, to Area Director, statewide director, home health administrator, Illinois licensed nursing home administrator to a short term only facility, Vice President, and COO. Her passion for senior care has allowed her and her teams to be impactful to many lives. In her spare time, she likes to spend time with her family and complete house renovations.

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James Dale
CFO

James Dale, CFO

James has over 25 years of experience as a versatile financial executive with experience in public accounting, and as Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, and Secretary for private and public corporations. Most recently, he was the Executive Vice President and head of the Chicago office of a publicly traded Australian financial services firm. This firm specialized in corporate finance, securities trading, property funds investment and management, and wealth management with annual revenues exceeding $70 million. James was responsible for all aspects of the U.S. operations (Chicago office), reporting directly to the Australian CEO and board of directors. The U.S. operation focused primarily on the establishment and oversight of real estate investment vehicles, the identification and acquisition of assets, and the procurement of debt and equity capital.

Prior to this position, James was the CFO of a publicly-traded real estate developer, manager, and operator with more than 100 hotels nationwide and a commercial office building, with annual revenues of up to $125 million. James was responsible for all aspects of financial management and reporting, internal control structure, budgeting, forecasting, investor and public relations, cost control, SEC reporting, income tax compliance, 401(k) plan administration, and critical business development analysis. He also served for approximately nine years as an Audit Manager with an international public accounting firm, with experience in auditing, financial reporting and taxation. James received his Bachelor of Science degree in Accountancy from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Kealy

Kealy Hootman
SENIOR DIRECTOR OF THERAPY

Kealy Hootman, Senior Director of Therapy

Kealy Hootman (PT, DPT) has practiced in the field of Physical Therapy for more than 13 years, and currently holds a position as a Senior Director of Therapy with Advanced Therapy Solutions. She began her career with East Bank Center/ATS in 2007. Kealy holds a Doctorate of Physical Therapy and a bachelor's degree in Psychology from Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa. Kealy's interest in physical therapy was piqued when, as a junior in high school, she suffered a torn ACL in her knee playing basketball and had to go through months of physical therapy. After rehabbing from her injury, she continued on to play four years of basketball at the collegiate level. The involvement of her rehabilitation team consisting of physical therapists and athletic trainers left an indelible mark.

Outside of ATS, Kealy is also a girls basketball coach at Harlem High School (her alma mater) and enjoys Crossfit to stay in shape. She and her patients work hard toward the goal of a normal, active life each and every day.

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Caleb Beary
SENIOR DIRECTOR OF THERAPY

Caleb Beary, Senior Director of Therapy

Caleb Beary (PT, MPT) is a Northern Illinois University alum and a practicing Physical Therapist since 2004. He has served the Northern Illinois area in acute, sub-acute, outpatient and home health settings for 16 years.

His job duties include managing administrative and clinical roles as a Senior Director of Therapy for Advanced Therapy Solutions. He brings a passion for orthopedic, neurological and cardiac rehabilitation to his clinical practice and patient care in the stateline area. Caleb especially enjoys the personal connection he makes with every patient, offering each a unique experience through their rehabilitation journey as they progress back to optimal daily life/work skills and independence.

In his free time, Caleb spends time with his wife, Jennifer, their three kids and two dogs. In addition, he enjoys coaching local youth soccer, baseball, and basketball.

Testimonials

ATS is a thorough and thoughtful close team environment, they care deeply about their patients and their patient's goals to return home.

Amber, COTA